• Nine South African universities top sub-Saharan QS rankings

• University of Cape Town ranked first regionally

• Region’s higher education faces low enrollment, underinvestment

Nine South African universities ranked among the top 10 institutions in sub-Saharan Africa in the latest QS World University Rankings published on Thursday.

The ranking, which evaluated 69 institutions in 21 countries, placed the University of Cape Town first, followed by the University of Johannesburg and the University of the Witwatersrand. Stellenbosch University and the University of Pretoria also featured in the top five.

British rankings firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) used several indicators, including academic reputation, international outlook, research impact and graduate employability. The University of Cape Town stood out for its research reputation and publication visibility, while the University of Johannesburg performed strongly in international partnerships and student-to-faculty ratios.

“South Africa leads African higher education excellence,” Ben Sowter, senior vice president at QS, said, noting the country’s dominant position in citations, publications and international collaboration.

The results reflect the structure of South Africa’s university system, which attracts talent and sustains competitive academic output. Sowter cautioned, however, that rising student enrollment is putting increasing pressure on resources, while funding and infrastructure are failing to keep pace.

The performance comes against a strained regional backdrop. In 2025, about 264 million students were enrolled in higher education worldwide, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In sub-Saharan Africa, the gross enrollment rate stands at around 9%, well below the global average of 43%. Chronic underinvestment in research adds to the challenge, with research and development spending averaging less than 1% of GDP in the region.

Nearly 11 million young Africans enter the labor market each year, while gaps between training and economic needs persist. Against that backdrop, South Africa’s results highlight its alignment with international standards and underscore the need for other countries in the region to invest more in the quality, capacity and relevance of higher education to support economic transformation.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou